Tajikistan's Education Ministry has instructed the heads of all universities in the country to ban students from attending seminars, workshops, and other gatherings organized by foreign and international groups.

Alidod Rasulov, a department head at the ministry, confirmed to RFE/RL's Tajik Service on October 16 that the ministry has earlier this month sent a letter to university administrations instructing them to strictly control students' participation in gatherings arranged by foreign organizations.

According to Rasulov, an international organization has recently arranged the foreign trip of a group of Tajik students despite the ministry's refusal to permit such trip.

Rasulov expressed concern over the "agendas" of foreign organizations, which hold seminars for students "who should be attending their classes instead."